Anita Barry, the Director of the Infectious Disease Bureau for the Boston Health Department, said there has been a ten-time increase in reported cases in Boston this season than for all of last season.

Dr. Barry said the flu was blamed for four deaths in Boston since October 1.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health said it does not keep records of influenza deaths because of the difficulty in determining whether a death is due to the flu virus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the flu virus is widespread in 43 states.